The RTI Act was introduced to combat corruption, promote accountability, and empower citizens with the right to access government-held information. It was a response to long-standing demands from civil society for greater transparency in governance.

Section 4 of the RTI Act makes it mandatory for public authorities to maintain and publish information suo motu at regular intervals. This includes details about organizational structure, functions, duties, financial records, and decisions taken. Proactive disclosure reduces the need for individual RTI applications and promotes transparency.

The Information Commissions are tasked with hearing appeals, adjudicating complaints, and ensuring that the provisions of the RTI Act are followed by public authorities. They act as watchdogs for transparency and accountability.

The President of India appoints the Chief Information Commissioner on the recommendation of a selection committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. This system ensures that the appointment process is balanced and reflects both government and opposition inputs to maintain impartiality and transparency.

Section 10 permits severability, allowing the disclosure of non-exempt information by separating it from exempt portions. This ensures maximum transparency while protecting sensitive parts.

The RTI Act provides a special provision for cases concerning life and liberty. In such matters, the information must be provided within 48 hours of the request. This ensures that urgent situations involving threats to life or human rights violations are addressed immediately without bureaucratic delays.

A second appeal to the Information Commission must be filed within 90 days from the date on which the first appellate authority's decision was received. This time-bound process ensures timely redressal of grievances.

The Central Information Commission can have up to ten Information Commissioners in addition to the Chief Information Commissioner. This provision allows for distribution of workload and ensures timely disposal of appeals and complaints filed under the RTI Act.

The RTI Act clarifies that information which cannot be denied to Parliament or a State Legislature cannot be denied to any citizen. This provision ensures equality in access to information and prevents double standards in disclosure.

The first appellate authority is generally a senior officer within the same department or office who is superior to the Public Information Officer. This system provides an internal mechanism to address grievances before escalating them to higher commissions.